The UFC is the premier MMA promotion in the world and only fighters in the peak physical condition can achieve success in the event. However, there have been instances where Michael Bisping, blind in one eye, became the undisputed middleweight champion.
Shara Magomedov, the undefeated middleweight from Dagestan and blind in one eye, made his debut with the promotion at UFC 294. Recently, Magomedov has gotten his ticket to fight in the US, albeit there seems to be a catch.
Shara Magomedov gets US visa
Shara Magomedov made his UFC debut against Bruno Silva at UFC 294 in UAE. The undefeated middleweight from Dagestan was an anomaly as he showcased exceptional striking but poor wrestling. For context, UFC fighters from Dagestan are expert wrestlers.
Magomedov recently revealed that he has got a US visa which will make him eligible to fight in the USA. After his victory over Silva, Magomedov made it known that he wanted to become the champion of the division. Moreover, he later called out Marvin Vettori, a former title challenger in the division.
šØ| Shara Magomedov has obtained a U.S. Visa meaning he is now able to fight in America.
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) March 19, 2024
šø @RedCorner_MMA pic.twitter.com/uQNKFhLBo1
Vettori has traded wins and losses in his past six fights and expressed willingness to fight Magomedov. However, Vettori was booked to fight Brendan Allen in the main event of UFC Vegas 90. Unfortunately, Vettori got injured and was replaced by Chris Curtis as per Verdict MMA.
Now, with Magomedov’s arrival in the USA imminent, it is very likely that the unranked Magomedov could get the chance to crack the top 10 rankings of the division in what would be his second fight in the promotion.
Why Shara Magomedov’s visa approval does not confirm his increased activities of US soil?
It is public knowledge that Shara Magomedov is blind in one eye. Doctors tried their best to restore vision in his eyes with 8 surgeries in 2 years but were unsuccessful. Nonetheless, that has not stopped the Russian fighter from losing his undefeated record.
Even though Michael Bisping became the UFC champion with a blind eye, he did it as he did not reveal his blindness. The athletic commissions in the USA are extremely strict and would never allow a fighter blind in one eye to compete.
As such, there is very little chance that Magomedov would fight in the USA even though he got the visa approval from the country. Before he made his UFC debut in UAE, Magomedov fought exclusively in Asia, Russia, China, and Thailand.
The aforementioned countries and the UAE do not have a strict commission like the US and therefore Magomedov was allowed to fight. Nonetheless, it remains to be seen whether Shara Magomedov can fight in the USA.
Do you think Shara Magomedov will fight in the USA? Leave your thoughts below!
